Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks for the info! Should I move her tomorrow night after three days of sitting or wait another day or to?

You can move her any time that's convenient for you. I ended up moving my broody and her nest 2 times. I did both moves during the day by putting her off the nest to eat & drink. Then quickly moving the nest & eggs. Then putting her back on the nest. I also switched out her eggs for shipped ones on Day 14. She was determined to hatch some eggs

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah this morning everyone is alive and no apparent injuries! The babies all survived the night without heat - of course it never got lower then 50F. Now I just have to keep an eye on Smokey who is keeping all the girls out of the coop - seems she is still attacking anyone who enters to go to the nest boxes. Hopefully that will end soon. Broody pullets are the best! No more brooders inside for me unless it's an emergency situation

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah this morning everyone is alive and no apparent injuries! The babies all survived the night without heat - of course it never got lower then 50F. Now I just have to keep an eye on Smokey who is keeping all the girls out of the coop - seems she is still attacking anyone who enters to go to the nest boxes. Hopefully that will end soon. Broody pullets are the best! No more brooders inside for me unless it's an emergency situation

well right now I am enjoying my 4 chicks inside but they sure are growing fast. I think by week 5 I'll be ready to toss mine out too.

I don't have an incubator so I have never experienced hatching chicks the artifical way, but to watch mama and chicks together is very rewarding... I glad to hear your chicks did well for first time outside, and Smokey is doing a good job, but where are your girls gonna lay if they can't get into the coop?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Therein lies the problem. She is hogging the coop and soon the girls will be very upset. Hoping it works out and I don't have to intervene. I am a little worried about cleaning in there today as Smokey got me good yesterday when I first tried moving her and the babies.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I saw that someone made it past the coop guard as there was a brown LO pullet egg in the nest box. Smokey left me alone while I cleaned the coop.

 

[JakRat]

Put on leather or thick gloves. Make the area ready with food nearby and water nearby so she can get up to get it. Make the nest ready. Move her at night, that is when most chickens become docile. Then mark the eggs with a marker so you can identify them and put the eggs you want her to hatch under her by cupping them with your hand over them so she doesn't peck the eggs. Then lock her in for the night. She should move fine.

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I didnt have any problems with moving my silkie. I have been petting her and handling her while she is on her nest so that she doesnt peck me or freak out when I need to see her eggs or her future babies. She gives me more of a tap now just to let me know she cares I guess. I moved mine into our basement in an open dog crate. I brought her in in her nest box with a towel over it and then I turned the lights off in our back basement where she is at. I took that opportunity to candle her eggs and place them on her new nest in the dog crate. Then I picked her up and put her in. She did some readjustments but then was fine! I like having her inside now because it is much easier for me to monitor her and the other girls arent giving her any problems.

 

[jc12551]

I had to scoop her up and move her this morning. She got in a fight with a turkey hen and lost. The turkey climbed in the nest box breaking several eggs. I scooped up what I could and moved her. An hour later she was still not resettled. There were five turkey eggs, five standard eggs, and five bantam eggs under her!! If she settles back down I will switch out the current eggs for new ones since I don't know how long they were cold.

 

[perchie.girl]

Those eggs may still be viable.

 

[JakRat]

I have an egg rotation question. I went and checked on my girl this morning and was looking at how she was on her eggs. One that I picked up wasn't as warm as the others and was only partially under her. Do they rotate their eggs and heat them up as needed or what? When I did candle that one I saw the shadow of a spot!

 

[stonykill]

Those eggs may still be viable.

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